The "Am I Good Enough For Dentistry" Megathread

Do I have chance at becoming a dentist, i achieved 3A's 6B's 4C's at GCSE and have Alevels in Maths Economics ICT and further maths AS. Expected to get A*ABa
I dont mind doing anything it takes, currently 18, final year alevels ive been accepted to maths at bath university, Loughborough and sussex but I don't want to do maths anymore.

Any help please thanks,

haha how is it wow? I will, hoping to get some leeway to be honest as my age and the restrictions can't really be helped, just hoping I don't get advised to take a gap year..

You really need 3As. I'm not sure if they accept A*AB even though its the same points. Plus your A Levels are in the 'wrong' subjects for a dental career. You need to have done Chem + Biology. sorry

Thanks better try get an A in Economics .......do u think its possible to do chemistry and biology alevel in a year?

Which is why there are 6 year pre-dental/foundation courses available.

Which is why there are 6 year pre-dental/foundation courses available.

Compulsory subjects
Chemistry and Biology, at least one at A-level, the other must be at AS level. If A-level Maths is offered, Further Maths is acceptable at AS-level only. GCSE requirement: at least grade B at English Language and Maths, if not offered at A/AS-level.

From the king's website of the A206 course.

Go do some research before chucking in blunt and useless comments.

Right back at you dude, the A206 course offered by KCL is not a foundation/pre-dental 6 year course. It is a 5 year course for students who need additional support (both academically and financially) from local partner schools. Please read carefully before you start making comments like that.

Manchester: Typical A level offer: AAA plus grade B in a fourth AS subject (non-science subjects or only one science offered)

Cardiff: Six-Year course: The six-year course is ONLY available to students who either take no Science subjects at A-Level or take a maximum of one of Chemistry, Biology or Physics. Entry requirements will be three A-Levels at AAA.

Dundee: BDS Predental Year Entry
Lacking 3 Sciences? Consider the Predental Year
The predental year is designed for those able students who have no Science subject qualifications.
GCE A-Level AAA, at the first sitting of A levels (A2)

Bristol: GCE A/AS level grade range AAA
Subjects and grades required: Three non-science subjects, or one science and two non-science subjects.

My apologies I really did think you needed at least one science at A level; clearly not Thanks for the massive correction.

Unfortunately I think you might be asked to take a gap year. Somewhere on my health declaration forms and stuff it says you need to 18... ( i think, I can't really remember).

I think for all courses you have to be 18 for uni, I know someone doing Art foundation, and they have to take a gap year as they're 17. Plus there must be some legal issues with treating people at the age of 17 rather than 18.

Don't be disheartened at all at having to take a gap-year because you should think of it as a year extra; to enhance your application. A year out doing work experience and other such things will really improve your chances

I've been thinking about dentistry recently however I'm not sure whether it is worth even applying with the qualifications I have, do i stand a chance? HELP!

I am currently studying AS levels in Chemistry, Psychology, History and Design Technology and I would apply to a 6 year pre dental course.

At GCSE level I have 5 A*s and & 7As although ive been told thats not enough A*s

I already have 2 AS Levels General Studies - Grade C and Communication and Culture Grade A.

In the most recent January Modules I got a C in Chemistry and I am retaking (i really messed it up) and an A in Psychology.

Work experience wise I have 1 week in a maxofillo facial unit and will be doing 2 weeks with a general dental practioner in June. I will also be going to Tanzania for a month in august to volunteer with a school (dont know whether that helps?)

So the overall question is, Do i even stand a chance when applying? I don't want to apply and get no offers! Should I just choose something different? Or are there other options/ways into dentistry? What else could I do with my subjects, any help at all would be great!

One of the things about dentistry that im worried about is that: what if it becomes boring? I mean you are looking into peoples mouthes all day long, dont get me wrong this is my career choice (conditional on my a level results), and im very interested in it. I just dont want the job to become monotonous and mundane if ygm...

Yes I completely understand you. To be honest though Dentistry is such a varied career that you won't get bored and no day will be the same. Every day you will have new cases, and will have to apply your knowledge and treat them in different ways. One case may be a simple filling, another person may need a root canal, a filling and a crown.

If General Practice does get boring, there is always the option to work in a different setting, such as Hospital Dentistry, Community Dentistry, either full-time or part time. For example, one Dentist on my work experience worked 2 days a week in the Oral Surgery ward of the hospital, and worked 3 days a week in his own practice.

If that even becomes too monotonous, there is the opportunity to go into a speciality such as Orthodontics, Paediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Endodontics, Oral Surgery (and many more).

i think your gcse's are fine and you should apply to london uni's Just try do really well on that Ukcat exam ! its the big one for most dental uni's, and get some more work experience in different area's of dentistry, personally i know its really hard especially if u dont have any contacts like me ,but keep trying,hard work never goes to waste

have no idea, some1 gave me one too! I need to find myself a orthodontist to shadow...still haven't found one yet...